Announcements for the week of May 11, 2018

Posted on March 9, 2018

Spring Forward: Don’t forget to spring forward! Set your clocks before you go to bed Saturday night or you will be very late to church on Sunday!

BREAKFAST & EGG HUNT. Easter is just around the corner (April 1st!). Please join us for a light Easter breakfast beginning at 9:30 a.m. followed by an egg hunt at 10 a.m. If you’d like to bring something to the breakfast or if you can help with set-up/clean-up, please sign-up online or on the sign-up located on the events bulletin board near the nursery. Email Molly Koontz (molly.koontz@yahoo.com) with any questions. We hope to see you there! http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040e45aba82aaa8-easter

TIME TO ORDER EASTER LILIES! Every year we decorate the sanctuary with Easter lilies. If you would like to help by purchasing one or more potted lilies please let Lisa in the office know. The cost is $8.55 per plant. We will need your order and check no later than Tuesday, March 13, 2018. Be sure to make your check payable to First United Church and in the memo area put “For Easter Lilies”. Thank you!

SUPPORT FIRST UNITED’S MINISTRIES THROUGH ITS BUDGET. We are operating on a deficit budget for 2018: the expense budget is $15,000 greater than the projected income. If you haven’t supported First United financially in the past, will you consider doing so this year? If you already give, will you consider increasing your giving, even if it is just adding an extra dollar or two each week? That may not seem like much, but collectively, our giving can enhance the long-term health of our beloved faith community.

OFFERING ENVELOPES. If you have pledged to support First United, you have a box of offering envelopes with your name on it! Please pick up your box outside the front Sanctuary doors, if you haven’t already, and start using them when you give. This helps with our record keeping and ensures your gifts are properly credited to you. If you haven’t pledged, you can pick up a box without a name on it – just write your name on the sheet nearby so we know what number you took. Thank you!

THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE (NC) is working to fill vacancies on the Boards in preparation for this year’s elections. The Council has set May 6 as the date the congregation will vote to elect the nominated slate; thus the closing date for nominations from the congregation is April 29th. According to the By-laws: “Members of the congregation may submit nominations for church offices to the Nominating Committee during the period from the announcement of the Nominating Committee until one week prior to the election. Nominations from the congregation must be made in writing. Persons nominated by the congregation must declare their willingness to serve before they can be placed on the ballot.”

MONTHLY POTLUCKS. Bring yourself and a dish for food and fellowship. Potlucks will be after service on the following dates: March 18, April 15, May 27, June 10, July 15, August 19, September 16, October 21, November 18, and December 16.

To help ensure a diverse food offering at the potluck, let us know what type of dish you are bringing. There is a sign-up sheet on the table outside the kitchen. Questions? Contact Laura Kao laura_b_kao@hotmail.com or Hopi Stosberg hopi@stosberg.com

FRIDAYS AT FIRST UNITED

Just Friday: Just Friday is a monthly discussion group taking place on the last Friday of each month from 7-9 p.m. Each evening there will be a media presentation and we will discuss various issues relating to Justice. There will be light refreshment, no child care provided. From March-May there will be a focus on health and justice. There are many justice issues related to health, including access to quality care, health insurance, and availability of healthy food. We will focus discussion and media in the following areas:

March 23: Equal Treatment-issues of discrimination

April 27: Navigating the System-You need a phd for that!

May 25: Healthy Food-can you buy that near you?

If you have any questions, please contact Hopi Stosberg or Derek Roe.

MINISTER OF CARE FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 11, IS JEAN PETERS. A minister of care is a church volunteer who visits members in their home.